Apparatus and method for controlling display of a terminal icon

Abstract

A method for controlling display of an icon on a terminal displaying a first graphical object corresponding to the icon for accessing a corresponding application, detecting a data update for the application, generating a second graphical object based on the data update, and displaying the second graphical object on at least a portion of the first graphical object or in place of the first graphical object. In the method, the second graphical object corresponds to a content of the data update, the second graphical object comprises at least one profile image of a contact, and the second graphical object further comprises a numerical indicator corresponding to the data update and linked to the at least one profile image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling display of an icon on a terminal, comprising:
 displaying a first graphical object corresponding to the icon for accessing a corresponding application;   detecting a data update for the application;   generating a second graphical object based on the data update; and   displaying the second graphical object on at least a portion of the first graphical object or in place of the first graphical object,   wherein the second graphical object corresponds to a content of the data update,   wherein the second graphical object comprises at least one profile image of a contact, and   wherein the second graphical object further comprises a numerical indicator corresponding to the data update and linked to the at least one profile image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object is generated if a graphical object condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the graphical object condition is based on a log stored in the terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the log stores at least one of an activity history of the terminal, interaction with a contact, and social network activity information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises an image corresponding to the content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises a function key for operating a portion of the content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises a different color than the first graphical object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises at least one profile image of a contact. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second graphical object further comprises a numerical indicator corresponding to the data update and linked to the at least one profile image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises at least a clip of the content. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises an album cover art corresponding to the content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises a signal strength of a source station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises weather information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object comprises alarm settings. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus to control display of an icon, comprising:
 a storage unit to store a first graphical object corresponding to the icon for accessing a corresponding application;   a detection unit to detect a data update for the application;   a processing unit to generate a second graphical object based on the data update; and   a control unit to display the second graphical object on at least a portion of the first graphical object or in place of the first graphical object,   wherein the second graphical object corresponds to a content of the data update,   wherein the second graphical object comprises at least one profile image of a contact, and   wherein the second graphical object further comprises a numerical indicator corresponding to the data update and linked to the at least one profile image.